Dhaka’s two city corporations have identified 141 locations vulnerable to waterlogging ahead of the upcoming monsoon and said they are taking measures to reduce the risk.
Of the spots, 108 are in Dhaka North City Corporation areas and 33 are in Dhaka South City Corporation areas.
Urban planners and experts, however, said the city’s drainage crisis cannot be solved without restoring canal connectivity, improving maintenance, and implementing an integrated master plan.
Former Bangladesh Institute of Planners president Mohammad Fazle Reza Sumon said the biggest problem remains the lack of connectivity between secondary and tertiary drainage channels and the main outfalls.
“Ultimately, all water has to flow into the primary channels. But the connectivity needed for that is still not functioning properly,” he said.
According to him, some restored drainage connections have again fallen under encroachment, while many northern areas of the city remain vulnerable despite partial improvement efforts.
He warned that the drainage system may struggle if rainfall exceeds 80 millimetres, while some areas could face severe flooding during heavier rainfall.
Urban expert Prof Adil Mohammed Khan, executive director of the Institute for Planning and Development, said Dhaka’s canals, drains and local drainage lines remain clogged with waste despite repeated cleanup drives.
“The city corporations continue to talk about projects and investments, but area-based assessments and long-term planning are still lacking,” said Adil, also a former president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners.
He said localised waterlogging has become common across the city, citing water accumulation near Dhanmondi Lake after only a short spell of rainfall this year.
“That indicates flaws in the drainage design and water flow system,” he added.
Adil also stressed the need for a coordinated drainage master plan instead of separate approaches by the two city corporations.
He emphasised public awareness and community involvement to prevent garbage dumping into drains.
Dr Mohammad Safiullah, superintendent engineer of DSCC, said the corporation has identified 33 hotspot areas and formed ward-based emergency response teams involving its engineering and waste management departments.
Safiullah said the corporation has increased the number of temporary pumps from two to eight this year to tackle waterlogging in critical areas, including New Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, Bakshibazar, Chanmari intersection, Rajarbagh and Fakirapool.
Alongside regular cleaners, contractors have also been engaged for drain cleaning operations, he added.
Safiullah said waterlogging around New Market and Mirpur Road worsened after an outlet through the BDR area was closed, slowing drainage in surrounding areas.
To address the problem, DSCC has proposed a Tk 250–300 crore project aimed at improving drainage connectivity in Dhanmondi, New Market and Bakshibazar areas.
“The proposal has already been submitted for budget allocation. If approved, it could provide a permanent solution,” he said.
The project plans include extending drainage outlets towards the river and creating multiple discharge routes through areas such as Sadarghat and Chawkbazar.
DSCC is also working on canal restoration projects in Jirani, Kalunagar, Hazaribagh and Shyampur areas.
Meanwhile, DNCC Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Raquibul Hasan said the corporation currently oversees 29 canals but has prioritised five canals and the Mirpur area for immediate intervention during this monsoon.
The targeted canals include Sangbadik Canal, Baunia Canal, 22-feet Canal, Ramchandrapur Canal, Tolarbag Canal and Kalyanpur Canal.
“Our target is to bring Mirpur under zero flooding conditions as much as possible,” Raquibul said.
He said DNCC aims to ensure that standing water in targeted areas drains within one to two hours after heavy rainfall.
According to the chief engineer, cleanup and excavation work are ongoing in Kalyanpur and Tolarbag areas, while workers have been deployed continuously to prevent sludge and garbage accumulation.
He acknowledged that cleaning box culverts remains difficult and dangerous, prompting DNCC to consider robotic or mechanised cleaning equipment in the future.
However, he said several areas, including Ashkona, Dakshinkhan and Uttarkhan, continue to face severe drainage problems due to encroached canals, wetlands and the absence of proper outlets.
“There is simply no path for water to pass in many of these places,” he said.
Raquibul said full-scale projects are required for long-term solutions, including restoring canals according to proper designs and layouts.
“We cannot continue with temporary approaches forever. Permanent restoration of the canal network is necessary,” he said.
